High intensity compact flashlight

Abstract

A very compact flashlight having an external diameter and length comparable to a typical single AA cell flashlight, but with much higher emitted light intensity, is described. The flashlight fits into pre-existing mounts designed to attach AA cell flashlights to weapons (e.g., pistols) for target illumination. It is shorter than multi-cell AA flashlights and brighter than single cell AA flashlights, thereby providing better weapon target illumination without the bulk associated with prior art multi-cell units. The flashlight barrel is shaped to accommodate a bundle of, for example, three AAAA batteries arranged in a side-by-side relationship. Circuit boards located at opposite ends of the battery bundle interconnect the batteries in series so that higher voltage, higher intensity lamps can be used. Alignment means inside the barrel hold the batteries and circuit boards in a predetermined relationship to accomplish the series interconnection. A high-intensity bi-pin lamp is conveniently coupled to one of the circuit boards and a switch for integral or remote operation is coupled to the other circuit board.

I claim: 
     
       1. A flashlight comprising: an elongated hollow body means for holding at least three batteries arranged side by side, said hollow body means comprising a single chamber having longitudinal grooves in an interior wall thereof, each groove being shaped to receive a portion of a different battery, said longitudinal grooves being equally spaced around said interior wall, said hollow body means having an exterior surface separated from said single chamber by a wall thickness which is smaller adjacent said longitudinal grooves and larger between said longitudinal grooves;   first electrical interconnection means coupled to first ends of the batteries and aligned thereto for electrically interconnecting first ends of a first pair of the batteries; and   second electrical interconnection means coupled to second ends of the batteries for electrically interconnecting second ends of a second pair of the batteries.   
     
     
       2. The flashlight of claim 1 further comprising a lamp coupled to said first electrical interconnection means. 
     
     
       3. The flashlight of claim 2 wherein the lamp is supported by the first electrical interconnection means. 
     
     
       4. A flashlight comprising: an elongated hollow body means for holding at least three batteries arranged side by side,   first electrical interconnection means coupled to first ends of the batteries and aligned thereto for electrically interconnecting first ends of a first pair of the batteries;   second electrical interconnection means coupled to second ends of the batteries for electrically interconnecting second ends of a second pair of the batteries; and   a lamp coupled to said first electrical interconnection means;   wherein the lamp is supported by the first electrical interconnection means, and the first electrical connection means comprises a first electrical lead making contact to the first ends of the first pair of batteries and a second electrical lead making contact to a first end of a third battery and a third electrical lead making contact to a first electrically conductive portion of the body means.   
     
     
       5. The flashlight of claim 4 wherein the second and third electrical leads are coupled to electrical leads of the lamp. 
     
     
       6. The flashlight of claim 4 wherein the second electrical connection means comprises a fourth electrical lead making contact to second ends of the second pair of batteries and a fifth electrical lead making contact to a second end of one of the first pair of batteries and coupled to a second electrically conductive portion of the body means electrically coupled to the first electrically conductive portion of the body means. 
     
     
       7. The flashlight of claim 6 further comprising a switch and wherein the fifth electrical lead is coupled to the second electrically conductive portion of the body means through a switch. 
     
     
       8. A flashlight comprising: an elongated hollow body means for holding at least three batteries arranged side by side,   first electrical interconnection means coupled to first ends of the batteries and aligned thereto for electrically interconnecting first ends of a first pair of the batteries; and   second electrical interconnection means coupled to second ends of the batteries for electrically interconnecting second ends of a second pair of the batteries; and   wherein the body means has an interior bore with longitudinal recesses therein into which the batteries are partially received and which locate the batteries in substantially parallel, side-by-side, orientation; and   wherein at least one of the electrical interconnection means comprises a thin circuit board having an exterior perimeter a portion of which engages at least one of the longitudinal recesses.   
     
     
       9. A flashlight comprising an elongated hollow body having an interior bore for accommodating multiple elongated batteries arranged side-by-side, said interior bore having therein multiple elongated grooves for receiving portions of the batteries;   first and second interconnection means located, respectively, adjacent first and second ends of the multiple batteries for making contact thereto; and   said interconnection means engaging one or more of the grooves for aligning the batteries and the interconnection means in predetermined relationship.   
     
     
       10. A flashlight comprising an elongated hollow body having an interior bore for accommodating multiple elongated batteries arranged side-by-side;   first and second interconnection means located, respectively, adjacent first and second ends of the multiple batteries for making contact thereto; and   alignment means interior to the hollow body and engaging at least one of said interconnection means for aligning the batteries in predetermined relationship thereto; and   wherein the interconnection means comprise circuit boards having thereon electrodes which make electrical connection with end-mounted contacts of the batteries, wherein each circuit board has at least one electrode which interconnects the end-mounted contacts of at least one pair of batteries.   
     
     
       11. The flashlight of claim 10 wherein the first circuit board interconnects end-mounted contacts of a first pair of the batteries and the second circuit board interconnects end-mounted contacts of a second pair of the batteries, different by at least one battery from the first pair of the batteries. 
     
     
       12. A target illumination device, comprising: a lamp for providing light;   an elongated barrel having a wall of varying thickness and having a single central chamber internal to said wall for receiving at least three batteries having opposed end-contacts, wherein the batteries are arranged within said central chamber in a side-by-side configuration and partially recessed into equally spaced grooves formed in said wall, wherein said wall is thinner proximate each of said grooves and thicker between each of said grooves;   a switch for interrupting the flow of current from the batteries to the lamp; and   interconnection means proximate to first and second ends of the barrel and electrically coupled to the lamp and the switch for interconnecting the end contacts of the multiple batteries to arrange the batteries electrically in series with each other, the switch and the lamp, so that closing the switch causes the lamp to illuminate.   
     
     
       13. A target illumination device, comprising: a lamp for providing light;   an elongated barrel for receiving at least three batteries having opposed end-contacts, wherein the batteries are arranged in a side-by-side configuration;   a switch for interrupting the flow of current from the batteries to the lamp; and   interconnection means proximate to first and second ends of the barrel and electrically coupled to the lamp and the switch for interconnecting the end contacts of the multiple batteries to arrange the batteries electrically in series with each other, the switch and the lamp, so that closing the switch causes the lamp to illuminate; and   wherein the interconnection means comprise a first board with conductive leads thereon, the conductive leads making electrical connection to the end contacts of the multiple batteries; and   wherein the lamp is attached to two of the electrically conductive leads on a first of the circuit boards.   
     
     
       14. A target illumination device, comprising: a lamp for providing light;   an elongated barrel for receiving at least three batteries having opposed end-contacts, wherein the batteries are arranged in a side-by-side configuration;   a switch for interrupting the flow of current from the batteries to the lamp; and   interconnection means proximate to first and second ends of the barrel and electrically coupled to the lamp and the switch for interconnecting the end contacts of the multiple batteries to arrange the batteries electrically in series with each other, the switch and the lamp, so that closing the switch causes the lamp to illuminate; and   wherein the interconnection means comprise a first board with conductive leads thereon, the conductive leads making electrical connection to the end contacts of the multiple batteries; and   wherein a first terminal of the switch is coupled to an electrically conductive lead on a second circuit board and a second terminal of the switch is coupled to a conductive portion of the elongated barrel.   
     
     
       15. A target illuminating weapon, comprising: a target illuminating flashlight comprising, (i) a rigid elongated barrel having in the interior thereof a single chamber having equally spaced grooves therein for holding at least three elongated batteries arranged in a side-by-side equally spaced relationship, (ii) a lamp mounted proximate to an end of the elongated barrel for emitting a light beam aligned along the weapon boresight, and (iii) circuit means interior to the barrel for electrically interconnecting end contacts of the elongated batteries so as to connect them electrically in series with each other and the lamp, the circuit means engaging the grooves so as to align the circuit means and the batteries in the predetermined relationship;   attachment means engaging the elongated barrel and the weapon for aligning a light emitting axis of the flashlight with the boresight of the weapon; and   switch means coupled to the weapon for completing an electrical circuit comprising the series arranged batteries and lamp.   
     
     
       16. A flashlight, comprising: (i) a rigid elongated barrel having in the interior thereof a single chamber having grooves therein substantially equally spaced around said interior for holding at least three elongated batteries in a predetermined side-by-side relationship substantially equally spaced around said interior;   (ii) circuit means interior to the barrel for electrically interconnecting end contacts of the elongated batteries so as to connect them electrically in series with each other and a lamp, the circuit means engaging the grooves so as to align the circuit means and the batteries in the predetermined relationships; and   (iii) switch means for completing an electrical circuit comprising the series connected batteries and lamp.   
     
     
       17. A flashlight, comprising: (i) a rigid elongated barrel having in the interior thereof a single chamber having grooves therein for holding at least three elongated batteries in a predetermined side-by-side relationship;   (ii) circuit means interior to the barrel for electrically interconnecting end contacts of the elongated batteries so as to connect them electrically in series with each other and a lamp, the circuit means engaging the grooves so as to align the circuit means and the batteries in the predetermined relationships; and   (iii) switch means for completing an electrical circuit comprising the series connected batteries and lamp, wherein the circuit means comprises a first circuit board adjacent first ends of the elongated batteries and a second circuit board adjacent second ends of the elongated batteries, wherein at least one of the circuit boards comprises a printed circuit board.